But after overcoming his recent injuries, the former England international insists he is now ready to fight for a starting spot in the first-team, particularly after making his return to action in a friendly clash with Preston on Tuesday.

"Just played 70 minutes in a behind closed doors game against Preston. Came through unscathed!," he wrote on Twitter.

And the former Manchester United man insists he is past the injury niggles which has prevented him from kick-starting his Stoke career.

"I am healthy and raring to go,” Owen told The Sentinel. “It depends on me now to stay fit and perform. I have to wait for the opportunity but hopefully I can take it when it does come.

"I've had muscular problems which have probably come from not having a solid pre-season.

"But that's gone. I want to look forward and hopefully iron out the niggles and get on with playing some games.

"It's a key period because the games are coming thick and fast and there are a lot of points to be had around Christmas.

"I just want to get going because it has been a stuttering start so far for me. I just want to be fit for a period of time and show the fans what I came here to do."